School

The lyrics describe a young person being guided by adults at school and at home. At first, their instructions seem ordinary: study, work hard, and avoid trouble. Gradually, though, the speaker questions whether these rules help the child understand life or simply teach obedience. The mood shifts from observation to frustration and doubt, before ending with a reminder that the young person can make choices for themselves.

“Johnnie-Too-Good” suggests an ideal student who never avoids work and always follows expectations. “Learn what life’s about” points to knowledge beyond school lessons, while “won’t let you work it out” implies that adults may be deciding things for the child instead of allowing them to think independently. The phrase “make a good boy of you” sounds both caring and controlling: being “good” may mean behaving well, but it may also mean fitting someone else’s idea of what a person should be.

The speaker is not completely certain that rebellion is the answer. They wonder whether they are mistaken or “crazy,” and admit uncertainty about right and wrong. This makes the final message less like a simple command to reject authority and more like encouragement to consider different ways of seeing things. “You’re comin’ along” could mean growing up, moving forward, or continuing to be shaped by the choices and expectations around you.